22/12/2013 14:46Volleyball star Tsvetan Sokolov back home to take good care of children in need News from the clubs

Dupnitsa, Bulgaria, December 22, 2013. The players of Marek Union-Ivkoni DUPNITSA – who recently completed their second campaign in the CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – and Bulgaria’s Volleyball star Tsvetan Sokolov – who is a native of Dupnitsa – recently joined a special charity action as they distributed Christmas presents to the children hosted at the foster home “Olga Stokhnova”.
“We know that every institution like this foster home needs support, especially those that are working with children” says middle-blocker Martin Ivanov. “We decided to collect money so as to help these children in need. These kids have to know that there is always someone out there who cares and is ready to lend a helping hand.”
“Sport is much more than actions on the court. You get to learn that you can achieve your dreams. So my appeal to the children here is that they have to continue believing in their dreams, because one day they will come true” adds another player of Marek Union-Ivkoni, Borislav Apostolov.

However, Tsvetan Sokolov, a former member of Marek Union-Ivkoni and the major star in Bulgaria’s national team that this year was ranked fourth at the World League Finals in Argentina as well as at the CEV Volleyball European Championship in Denmark, was somehow the most special present that the children could ask for. “Athletes need to be a role model in their society and they shall set the example not only for those who come to the sports hall to cheer on them but also for children who need care and love. Their smiles and thank you are worthier than any other title or trophy” Sokolov said.

Sokolov also attended the annual ceremony for the “Athlete of Dupnitsa”; he presented 80 promising athletes and players from his home town with special souvenirs, including those who are playing in the youth divisions of his former Volleyball club. “I am happy to be back in Dupnitsa and will never forget how much I received here” said the opposite who currently plays in Italy for the likes of Diatec TRENTINO.

The Mayor of Dupnitsa, Metodi Chimev, also presented Sokolov with a special award for his career and for making the name of the city well-known across the international Volleyball community. Another native of Dupnitsa, Elitsa Vasileva, also received a special souvenir from the Mayor after she recently broke the world record for the most points scored in a single match. Vasileva registered 59 in the last game she played in the Korean national league with the Heungkuk Pink Spiders.

Sokolov and Vasileva are back home and about to start their preparations for the third round of the World Championship qualification. Vasileva and Bulgaria women’s national team will play in Varna and are set to be joined there by the national teams of Slovakia, Belarus, and the Czech Republic. Sokolov will lead Bulgaria in Opava playing hosts Czech Republic, as well as the Netherlands and Cyprus on their way to the 2014 World Championship in Poland.